Senate President Cullerton says he doesn't expect vote on income taxes

Monday

Jun 29, 2009 at 12:01 AMJun 29, 2009 at 5:17 AM

Senate President John Cullerton said he doubts lawmakers will vote to raise taxes before the current state budget expires at the end of Tuesday.

State Capitol Bureau

Senate President John Cullerton said he doubts lawmakers will vote to raise taxes before the current state budget expires at the end of Tuesday.

"It's clear the Republicans are saying they are not ready," Cullerton told the State Journal-Register editorial board.

Since it is after May 31, a tax increase will now take a three-fifths super majority in both the House and Senate in order to pass. In the House, that means at least one Republican must vote for a hike even if all 70 Democrats vote for it, something considered unlikely.

The Senate has passed a tax hike bill that the House has so far not considered. Cullerton said any new tax hike legislation that comes to the Senate will likely need Republican votes there, also.

Cullerton met with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Gov. Pat Quinn in Quinn's office Monday to try and work out a compromise budget deal. They were searching for other budget techniques that could minimize the steep cuts projected for human service programs.